“I approach bass lines like a melodist”: Dätcha Mandala’s Nicolas Sauvey on recording ‘Koda’ and his Lemmy-inspired bass

Dätcha Mandala, the dynamic power trio hailing from France, have been active since 2009 and have performed over 666 concerts across 16 countries, including appearances at Stade de France and Hellfest. Their latest album, Koda, released on 26 April 2024, represents a new chapter in their musical journey, showcasing a mature and robust sound. We had the opportunity to sit down with Nicolas Sauvey, the band’s bass player and vocalist, to delve into the making of Koda and his personal musical evolution.

Nicolas Sauvey’s journey with the bass guitar began with an unexpected choice. Despite now being known for his use of the Rickenbacker bass, his initial preference was quite different. “As a Led Zeppelin and John Paul Jones fan, I started playing on a Fender Jazz Bass (Mexican model because it was affordable) for several years, from 2009 to 2015,” he recalls. “Then I had the opportunity to buy a beautiful and amazing P-Bass from the late ’60s! I played on this marvellous relic for quite some time, from 2015 to 2017, and it’s still my favourite to play! But I was still looking for THE sound and the perfect look, so I tried a Rickenbacker and then I knew I had found the (almost) perfect balance! Even though it looks and sounds amazing, I still prefer the playability of the P-Bass.”

Interestingly, Sauvey no longer uses a standard Rickenbacker. Instead, he plays a custom-built version. “In fact, I don’t even use a ‘real’ Rickenbacker anymore, since a friend of ours built me a ‘Rickenbacker bass’ in his garage,” he explains. “It’s a bit like Lemmy’s signature bass, or at least it is inspired by it, but it’s the ‘Nico Mandala’s unique bass model,’ we could say! Even though I have tried several great basses in the studio, none has ever matched the sound of mine. So, yes, I have used my ‘Rickenbacker’ in the studio ever since the Hara album in 2020.”

Sauvey’s approach to bass lines is deeply influenced by his diverse musical background. “I am not what you would call a ‘traditional bassist’ because I didn’t start music with this instrument. It’s like my fourth or fifth instrument, the first three or four being voice, acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonica! So, I think I approach bass lines like a melodist or at least as someone who is always aware of what’s going on harmonically in the background and also rhythmically. I have always had more of a ‘harmonic ear’ than a rhythmic one. So, I approach the bass lines in the new compositions as I always have, with a harmonic-first and rhythmic-second approach, trying to fit as much as possible between the powerful drum parts of Jean-Baptiste Mallet and the rest of the harmonic elements we are doing with Jeremy Saigne on guitar, and my melody on vocals.”

The consistency and maturity of Koda were shaped by careful artistic decisions. “I think two main things impacted the sound of the album: how ready we were to play and record the songs, and how Charles De Schutter produced the sound. I mean, he is a legend! He could make someone burping sound like the best thing you’ve ever heard! And he actually did it on ‘Thousand Pieces’! He has definitely a more modern approach compared to the previous sound engineers we worked with, and that’s what we were looking for with this album and these new compositions, to take a step up from our ’70s inspirations. I think it worked pretty well!”

Koda is now available for purchase and streaming.